The UK Government has announced a major overhaul of the Disability Confident scheme, aiming to improve workplace inclusion and living standards for disabled people while supporting employers to recruit and retain talent. The reforms are part of the broader Plan for Change, designed to help sick and disabled people access work and progress in their… [Read More]

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science, James Lawless, has announced the rollout of €1.46 million in targeted funding to advance educational access, equity, and student success across Ireland. The funding is being delivered through his Department as part of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2026 and reflects the Government’s commitment to… [Read More]

Ireland has launched the next phase of the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme, with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education and Youth announcing that the initiative will begin by offering HPV vaccinations to students in fifth and sixth year of post-primary school. Delivered by the Health Service Executive primarily through schools,… [Read More]

On small island states like Cabo Verde, development challenges are often shaped by physical distance, limited access to finance, and the uneven reach of institutions. Translating the Sustainable Development Goals into meaningful local outcomes therefore depends on whether global commitments can be effectively embedded within municipal systems, local economies, and everyday livelihoods. On the islands… [Read More]

The Inter-Provincial Workshop on Sharing and Dissemination of Results of Decentralized Governance of Food Systems, Food Security, and Nutrition was held on 18 December 2025 at the Prey Veng Provincial Administration, bringing together 83 participants from national and sub-national government bodies, development partners, research institutions, and community stakeholders. Co-organized by the Council for Agriculture and… [Read More]

After seven years of legal proceedings, a court on the Greek island of Lesbos has acquitted all 24 humanitarian workers who were charged with serious felonies for providing lifesaving assistance to migrants at sea. The verdict prompted an emotional response in the courtroom, with relief and celebration marking the end of what many described as… [Read More]

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organisation Against Torture, has raised serious concerns over the suspension of at least seven human rights non-governmental organisations in Uganda ahead of the country’s general elections. The affected organisations include Chapter Four Uganda,… [Read More]

The Clean Energy Electric Boat Innovation Expo held on Tunda Island highlighted how solar-powered electric boats can support small-scale fishers by reducing fuel costs, lowering emissions, and strengthening livelihoods amid climate change. Convened by UNDP and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the event demonstrated practical clean energy solutions tailored to the needs of… [Read More]

India’s rapid economic growth and strategic importance have made it a key partner for the European Union, with renewed momentum in EU–India relations following the adoption of a Joint Communication in September 2025. This agenda spans trade, technology, security and connectivity, while negotiations on the long-awaited EU–India Free Trade Agreement are nearing completion. This phase… [Read More]

When Kerala’s Chief Minister announced on 1 November 2025 that the state had eliminated extreme poverty, it drew attention both nationally and internationally. While debates over definitions and measurement emerged, most observers acknowledged that Kerala had successfully addressed severe deprivation by ensuring access to nutrition, healthcare, and education. The focus quickly turned to understanding how… [Read More]

The study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Korea’s youth social entrepreneurship ecosystem and derive actionable policy recommendations. A secondary objective is to present Korea’s entrepreneurship policies as a reference framework for other countries seeking to strengthen their own ecosystems. While Korea’s policies have limitations and may not be directly transferable due to differing… [Read More]

Across five industries—banking, healthcare, software, legal services, and retail—AI transformation efforts repeatedly failed despite enthusiasm and leadership support. These failures, while diverse in context, reflected predictable patterns rooted in structural, cultural, and strategic misalignment. Leaders often underestimated the complexity of integrating AI and overestimated readiness across teams and systems. In banking, data fragmentation and regulatory… [Read More]

The practice of impact measurement and management (IMM) is crucial to the impact investment field, yet inherently complex. While investors can leverage a growing body of tools and expertise, challenges remain in effectively aggregating, attributing, and analyzing impact. Over the past year, MacArthur’s development of its IMM report on the Catalytic Capital Consortium (C3) investments… [Read More]

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) has invested $3.3 million to support the expansion of Sanivation’s waste-to-energy facility in Naivasha, Kenya, marking a key milestone in promoting circular economy solutions across East Africa. The investment, channeled through PIDG’s project development arm InfraCo, is complemented by a $500,000 technical assistance grant to strengthen operational capacity and… [Read More]

South Sumatra Province in Indonesia is actively shifting from coal dependence toward a greener economy centered on skilled workers and sustainable economic opportunities. To support this transformation, the province established the Regional Consultation Forum (FKD) for Accelerating Economic Transformation, bringing together government, employers, trade unions, universities, civil society, and the media to jointly shape the… [Read More]

Nepal continues to face a serious challenge in eliminating child labour, with national estimates indicating that 1.1 million children are engaged in work, including 220,000 in hazardous occupations. Despite progress, child labour persists in sectors such as brick kilns, woollen carpets, and entertainment, highlighting the need for stronger, coordinated action across all levels of government…. [Read More]

Ghana’s garment sector is currently valued at around US$400 million, with the government aiming to grow it to over US$2 billion and create 150,000 jobs by 2033, alongside expanding cotton production across 50,000 hectares. Despite this potential, more than 70 percent of textiles and garments consumed in the country are imported annually, limiting the sector’s… [Read More]

Montenegro’s green transition is increasingly influencing how businesses compete, invest, and create jobs. For employers, sustainability is no longer just a regulatory obligation—it is emerging as a driver of resilience, market access, and long-term growth. Companies that strategically adopt climate-conscious practices can gain commercial advantages while mitigating risks associated with regulatory changes, shifting investor expectations,… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a $35 million, six-year project in Laos aimed at improving the performance of frontline workers in education and health. The initiative, titled Improving Frontline Workers Performance in Education and Health, seeks to address long-term human capital challenges by enhancing staff management, professional development, and training systems. In the education sector,… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved $286 million in financing for a program aimed at improving healthcare access and quality for over 90 million people in West Bengal. The initiative seeks to enhance life expectancy and quality of life by addressing both service gaps and systemic constraints in the state’s health system. West Bengal has achieved… [Read More]

Sudan has endured over 1,000 days of brutal conflict, creating the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis, with no immediate end in sight. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reached more than 10 million of the most vulnerable women, men, and children since the resurgence of civil conflict in April 2023, providing emergency… [Read More]

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has completed a £1 billion fixed-rate benchmark bond issuance, marking its largest-ever transaction in sterling and its first benchmark issuance in the currency for 2026. Investor demand for the bond exceeded £2.2 billion, more than double the amount issued, reflecting strong confidence in the Bank’s credit quality and its long-standing… [Read More]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) have signed a $30 million financing package to develop a 300-megawatt solar power plant and a 75-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system in Guzar City, Kashkadarya Region, Uzbekistan. The project will also include 1.6 kilometers of transmission lines and a 220-kilovolt substation to integrate… [Read More]